36 DOC. 27 JULY 1914 27. To Elsa Einstein [Berlin, after 26 July 1914][1] Dear Darling, Despite the severity of the situation I still had to smile a bit about your little express letter. Just don’t worry, everything will turn out well. Of course you will probably have to economize a bit, but that is your passion, in which you can indulge yourself then. Dear little Else, I shall cherish you and be thankful for your love. You have proven that you felt attracted to me as a person and not to the great animal in the illustr[ated] newspapers. I know that Ilse and Margot also like coming to my home, even though leaving their grandparents’ house is not easy; they will find me a very bearable stepfather. The divorce will be initiated immediately so that everything takes its course speedily.[2] I may see my children only on neutral ground, not in our house. This is justified because it is not right to have the children see their father with a woman other than their own mother.[3] I know how to come to terms with that. Yet it is understandable that it was terribly hard at first. How can you be surprised that my parting from my children was a real blow to me? I would be a real monster if I felt any other way. I have carried these children around innumerable times day and night, taken them out in their pram, played with them, romped around and joked with them. They used to shout with joy when I came; the little one cheered even now, because he was still too small to grasp the situation instinctively. Now they are gone forever, and their mental image of their father is being spoiled systematically! But I believe they will not make very much of it, and ample care has been taken that they not be deprived of anything. Dear darling, do not reproach yourself. The trifle that has started the ball rolling now[4] was only of significance as a release. It is not possible for an honest person to love one woman and be married to another. Aside from that, if I had not been so indifferent about my own private life, I ought to have divorced long ago before I came to know and love you. I am not allowed to visit you. We must act very saintly during this time. See that the month of separation does not seem so very long to you; I also long for you very much already. I can visit you at your family’s home, incidentally, as often as I like; so it’s not so grim. Fond kisses from your Albert Affectionate greetings to the children.